sci-fi
Space opera territory
Sci-fi is informal shorthand for science fiction—stories set in imagined futures or alternate realities shaped by technology, space travel, or scientific speculation.
The term covers everything from literary novels to B-movies: a sci-fi channel, classic sci-fi.
Some writers prefer the full term, finding sci-fi slightly dismissive.
Orderly totality of existence
- galaxyGravitationally bound stellar mass
- nebulaInterstellar gas formation
- starshipFictional interstellar vessel
- wormholeHypothetical spacetime tunnel
black hole · space station · asteroid · hyperspace · zero gravity · moon base · alien planet · terraforming
Foreign biological entity
- martianNative of fourth planet
- VulcanRoman forge god
- KlingonFictional warrior race
- E.T.Extraterrestrial being
extraterrestrial · first contact · invasion · abduction · UFO · creature · sentient · otherworldly
Inert illuminating element
- hackerUnauthorized system accessor
- megacorporationColossal corporate entity
- implantDevice placed inside tissue
- dystopiaImaginary terrible society
synth · chrome · augmentation · underground · black market · digital · glitch · corpo
Machine resembling a person
- cyborgOrganic-mechanical hybrid entity
- robotProgrammable automated machine
- artificial intelligenceMachines mimicking human thought
- nanobotsSubmicroscopic robotic devices
teleportation · hologram · cloning · augmented-reality · replicant · time-travel · force field · ray gun
Unjust exercise of power
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- post-apocalypticAfter global catastrophe
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
regime · rebellion · resistance · tyranny · bleak · desolate · propaganda · censorship
cosmos
Orderly totality of existence
- galaxyGravitationally bound stellar mass
- nebulaInterstellar gas formation
- starshipFictional interstellar vessel
wormhole · black hole · space station · asteroid · hyperspace · zero gravity · moon base · alien planet · terraforming · cryosleep
xenomorph
Foreign biological entity
E.T. · extraterrestrial · first contact · invasion · abduction · UFO · creature · sentient · otherworldly · hybrid
neon
Inert illuminating element
- hackerUnauthorized system accessor
- megacorporationColossal corporate entity
- implantDevice placed inside tissue
dystopia · synth · chrome · augmentation · underground · black market · digital · glitch · corpo · biochip
android
Machine resembling a person
- cyborgOrganic-mechanical hybrid entity
- robotProgrammable automated machine
- artificial intelligenceMachines mimicking human thought
nanobots · teleportation · hologram · cloning · augmented-reality · replicant · time-travel · force field · ray gun · mech
oppression
Unjust exercise of power
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- post-apocalypticAfter global catastrophe
authoritarian · regime · rebellion · resistance · tyranny · bleak · desolate · propaganda · censorship · collapse
- filmsfeature films, action films, horror films, comedies, dramas
- talestale, funny stories, tall tales, short story, yarns
- film genreshorror, comedy, drama, action, romance
- sci-fiStar Wars, Blade Runner 2049, aliens, Star Trek, The Terminator
- speculative fictiondystopia, fantasy, futurism, utopia, steampunk
- story typesmyth, fable, fables, legend, drama
sci-fifantasy
Imaginative mental wandering
realist fiction · literary fiction · historical fiction · contemporary fiction · romance
sci-firealism
Accepting things as they are
realistic fiction · non-fiction · documentary · naturalism · kitchen sink realism
sci-fihistorical fiction
Novels set in actual pasts
period piece · costume drama · historical drama · antiquarian · nostalgia